• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2021

Background: Ranavirus is an emerging infectious disease which has been linked to mass mortality events in various amphibian species. In this study, we document the first mass mortality event of an adult population of Dybowski's brown frogs (Rana dybowskii), in 2017, within a mountain valley in South Korea. Results: We confirmed the presence of ranavirus from all collected frogs (n = 22) via PCR and obtained the 500 bp major capsid protein (MCP) sequence from 13 individuals. The identified MCP sequence highly resembled Frog virus 3 (FV3) and was the same haplotype of a previously identified viral sequence collected from Huanren brown frog (R. huanrenensis) tadpoles in South Korea. Human habitat alteration, by recent erosion control works, may be partially responsible for this mass mortality event. Conclusion: We document the first mass mortality event in a wild Korean population of R. dybowskii. We also suggest, to determine if ranavirus infection is a threat to amphibians, government officials and researchers should develop continuous, country-wide, ranavirus monitoring programs of Korean amphibian populations.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.127-136
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• 1984

The specification of dorsal/ventral axis in the egg of Xenopus laevis was investigated as a series of oblique orientation to gravity by tilt and clinostat. The results are as follows. (1) If the eggs were oriented, in the early period after fertilization, to novel gravity by $15^\\circ, 30^\\circ, 45^\\circ$ and $60^\\circ$ tilt until gastrula stage, the site of involution was usually formed in the OpG side (the side opposing gravity). As the degree of tilt was raised from $15^\\circ to 60^\\circ$, the rate of relocation of the involution site was proportionally increased. (2) When UV-irradiated eggs were tilted period to first cleavage by $15^\\circ, 30^\\circ, 45^\\circ$ and $6\^\\circ$, the effect of UV syndrome was rescued, and the extent of rescue was propotional to the tilt degree. (3) The fertile eggs were loaded on the clinostats of several speeds. In the range of low speeds between $0.45 \\sim 9.0$ rph, the location of dorsal lip was dependent on the direction of rotation, and in $40 \\sim 360$ rph, lip was formed at a random position. In addition, some of the tadpoles experienced with clinostat showed the typical syndrome of "dorsal axis reduction". The above results were discussed regarding the mechanism of the establishment of dorsal/ventral palarity. palarity.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2012

Rice paddy fields have been recognized as an alternative habitat for avian wetland foragers, and fish-rice farms have become a new tool in improving the abundance of aquatic animals. However, the use of the habitats by avian foragers, particularly by oriental storks ($Ciconia$ $boyciana$), was not well understood. In the present study, we investigated how a fish-rice farm influenced the abundance of aquatic animals and documented the foraging behavior of the two captive bred oriental storks in a closed semi-natural paddy field. Our results showed that the fish refuge pond (water depth 40 cm) had a higher abundance of fish whereas the areas planted with rice (water depth 20 cm) had more tadpoles and some aquatic insects. The two captive bred oriental storks captured mostly fish and aquatic insects in the rice-planted area and mostly fish in the fish refuge pond. The two oriental storks had higher foraging success and spent more time for foraging in the rice-planted area than in the fish refuge pond. This result suggests that the oriental storks might prefer foraging in the area with fish, aquatic insects, and amphibians under a greater success rate presumably due to shallow water depth in the paddy fields with a fish-rice farm.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.359-364
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• 2018

The taxonomy of Spirometra species has been controversial despite the medical and veterinary importance. Currently, only a few Spirometra species are considered valid species in the genus Spirometra. In the present study, the distribution of Spirometra species obtained from animals in Korea were identified by molecular analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1) gene. A total of 28 Spirometra species specimens were analyzed. These were all collected between 1973 and 2008 in the Republic of Korea. Mitochondrial cox1 sequences were examined for a total of 28 specimens comprising 14 S. decipiens and 14 S. ranarum. The difference in partial cox1 sequences (316 bp) between S. erinaceieuropaei (KJ599680) and S. ranarum (this study) was 9.3%, while that between S. decipiens (KJ599679) and S. ranarum (this study) was 2.2%. Genetic analyses identified 2 Spirometra species in animals such as cat, leopard cat, dog, duck and snake in Korea as S. decipiens and S. ranarum. S. decipiens and S. ranarum were present in Gyeongnam Province (P), Jeonnam P, Gangwon P, Chungbuk P, and Seoul. S. decipiens was found in tadpoles, snakes, ducks, cats, leopard cats and dogs, while S. ranarum was found in cats and dogs. The ratio of S. decipiens:S. ranarum calculated from the molecular data was 14:14 (or 1:1). These results indicate that S. decipiens and S. ranarum are sympatrically distributed in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture International Edition
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• no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2001

Residents of urban area like to be near rural animals during their daily life, so it is important conserve the suburban Yato landscape in Japan. This study targets the species of frogs that are commonly found in Yato paddies. It is necessary to various frogs inhabiting in Yato, because frogs are popular among Japanese, who as children enjoy capturing tadpoles and frogs. Its purpose is to clarify how that composition of frog species changes when the functionality of a frog habitat is diminished by urbanization. The survey, conducted in the Eastern Kanagawa area in central Japan, determined the distribution of each species of frog in grid cells measuring 0.5-$\textrm{km}^2$. It hsows wide distributing species (Hyla japonica; they always inhabit in all paddies), the middle range distributing species (Rhacophorus schlegelii and Rana porosa p.), the limited range distributing species (R. rugosa; they are most critical species, sine they are recognized only two cells), and so on. Correspondence analysis based on the frog species composition in each cell was performed to ascertain the adaptability of each species to various paddy field conditions. The results allowed us to classify cells into four groups according to the composition of the inhabiting species. And we recognized that the process by which frogs disappear occurs in reaction to either of two patterns of change. As paddy fields are improved by farmland consolidation, R. rugosa, R. ornativentris, R. japonica, and Bufo. japonica f. decline rapidly. In plateau areas, a smore andmore paddies are converted into strong, well-drained fields, only H. japonica and R. porosa p. remain. But in hilly areasd, the species composition becomes only H. japonica and R. schlegelii. Finally, we discuss the concept of ecological urban design in the context of the conservation of frog species in Yato paddies.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.143-147
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• 2024

This study aimed to determine the egg-hatching period of boreal digging frogs, Kaloula borealis, and investigate whether the incubation temperature affects the hatching period. In this study, the egg hatching was recorded based on the appearance of the tadpole. The results of this study showed that all the eggs hatched within 48 hours after spawning, with 28.1% (±10.8, n=52) hatching within 24 hours and 99.9% (±0.23, n=49) within 48 hours after spawning. The mean hatching rate of tadpoles showed significant differences depending on the difference in water temperature. The mean hatching rate between 15 and 24 hours after spawning was higher at a water temperature of 21.1 (±0.2) ℃ than at 24.1 (±0.2) ℃. The results suggest rapid hatching occurs at relatively low water temperatures because the spawning habits that spawn eggs in temporary ponds or puddles in the rainy season require rapid hatching before the puddles dry out. The results of this study are helpful for understanding the most suitable temperature conditions for the incubation of eggs of the endangered species, boreal digging frog.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.1 s.102
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• pp.83-94
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• 2003

Concentrated releases of zinc into water usually results from discharges associated with industrial purpose. The released zinc into soil is corroded and released into water. In aquatic environment, exess zinc is toxic to the organisms and causes the growth inhibition and malformation of them as a heavy metal. In this study, excess zinc toxicity was tested by FETAX (frog embryo teratogenetic assay with Xenopus)as in vivo system. Xenopus embryos at st.9 were exposed to $100{\sim}900\;{\mu}M$ of zinc for 7 days and 81% of individuals were survived in 100 ${\mu}M$, and 25% were survived in 1000M of zinc solution. In external malformations, swelled belly and intestinal dysplasia were common, and all of tested individuals showed these malformations in 200 ${\mu}M$ or higher concentration of zinc. In 400 ${\mu}M$ or higher concentration, all of tested tadpoles showed faded heart. Also, hypo-pigmentation, lens hernia and loose digestive track were very frequently found in 100 ${\mu}M$ of zinc. The histological study with paraffin section of zinc treated tadpoles showed following abnormalities; regeneration of photoreceptor on retina, reduced vitreous chamber in eye, reduction of red blood cells in heart, abnormal liver, swelling of pronephric cell, muscle dysplasia and palatal papilloma. These abnormalities may be caused by the degeneration of mitochondria, inhibition of cell adhesion, and the formation of leghemoglobin by zinc due to the substitution of $Ca^{2+}$ by $Zn^{2+}$. The body length was reduced due to the excess zinc. From a statistical result, body lengths of 300 ${\mu}M$ or higher concentrative g개ups was significantly reduced comparing that of control group. Recently, many spontaneous malformations and reduction of amphibians are reported, From the results of present study, excess zinc mi호t be a factor of amphibian reduction, and the control of zinc discharges is very important.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.51-60
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• 1975

The present study was performed histologically and histochemically to observe the cutaneous mucous glands in the frog, Rana nigromaculata during metamorphosis. The cutaneous thssues including dermal plicae in the dorsal portions of the frog tadpoles at each metamorphosis stage were fixed in 10% buffered formalin at$4^{\circ}C$, embedded in paraffin wax, sectioned 4 $\mu$m thickness and stained with periodic acid-Schiff(PAS) and alcian blue (AB) at both pH 2.5 and pH 1.0. The results of observation were as follows: 1. The developments of cutaneous mucous glands of the frog tadpole were begun with appearance of gland cell nest in the dermis at metamorphosis XV stage and significant numerical increases could be seen at metamorphosis XX, XXIII and XXIV stages. 2. This cutaneous mucous gland of the frog tadpole could be divided into two types; A-type glands showed strong positivities to both PAS and AB at pH 2.5 in the gland body cells and to PAS in the gland neck cells, and B-type glands at AB pH 2.5 in the gland body cells. 3. In the A-type mucous glands, the reactivities of the glandular epithelial cells to both PAS and AB stain could be first seen at the metamorphosis XIX stage of frog tadpole. The reactivities of the glandular epithelial cells to both PAS and AB pH 2.5 were gradually increased according to the process of metamorphosis after XX stage of metamorphosis. 4. The B-type mucous glands were first seen at the XX stage and the reactivity of the glandular epithelial cells to AB at pH 2.5 was gradually increased according to the process of metamorphosis after XX stage. 5. The A-type and the B-type mucous glands were in the ratio of 99 : 1, 7 : 3 and 5.5 : 4.5 for each of metamorphosis XX, XXI-XXII and XXIII-XXV stages. 6. The remarkable development of the cutaneous mucous glands of the frog tadpoles might be needed to maintain water and electrolyte balances according to the change of way from aquatic life to amphibious.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.846-852
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• 2011

This study researched the spawning sites of Kaloula borealis in a large number of wetlands in Jeju Island between May and August from 2007 to 2010. Based on the surveys, we discovered the locations of their habitats by investigating their calls from a rainy night to the next day and where their spawning sites were by ascertaining the existence of their eggs and tadpoles. According to the results, 83 wetlands were used as spawning sites across Jeju Island. A large number of wetlands were found to be permanent wetlands for Kaloula borealis. In addition, 81.9% of the wetlands in Jeju Island were found to be at an altitude of 150m or lower, and they spawned in shallow water not more than 50cm in depth. By region, 54 wetlands were in Jeju-island 29 wetlands were in Seogwipo-si. One of the reasons that Seogwipo-si has less wetlands than Jeju-si is that there are more orchards in Seogwipo-si than Jeju-si; accordingly, wetlands in Seogwipo-si were found to be more destroyed by farming. In the case of Seongsan-eup, a reedy marsh stretches out widely so that spawning sites were well preserved compared to other regions. This research will provide useful data for sustaining the population of Kaloula borealis by protecting their spawning sites from development, by offering habitats, and restoring spawning sites, which have become severely damaged and destroyed.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2009

The programed cell death of the cutaneous epithelial tissue during tail regression stages in anuran tadpoles of the blackspotted frog, Rana nigromaculata were visualized by the histochemical and transmission electron microscopic techniques. Metamorphotic changes in the tail regression during the period of the Shumway stage number 31 to 33 are characterized by the disappearance of mucous layer and formation of compound epithelium through cutaneous thickening. Following the TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated d-uridine triphosphate nick end labeling) staining technique, the apoptotic cells were detected at the distal region of the tail skin initially, but they can be seen at the proximal region according to their following development. It has been also revealed that the number of the TUNEL-positive cells gradually increased from apical to basal direction of the epithelial layers during the tail regressing stages. Following the TEM observation, the early apoptotic cells shown in the epithelium demonstrated condensation and margination of the chromatin material at the nuclear periphery. Another epithelial apoptotic cells were shown nuclear fragmentation, membrane blebbing and cytoplasmic condensation. Following the process of the apoptotic degradation, well preserved organelles and nuclear fragments can be identified in the cytoplasm of lysosome-rich cells, however they soon reduced to lysosomal residual bodies through the progressive degradation.